New suit filed against Ala. immigration law

A coalition of civil rights organizations is suing to stop part of Alabama's immigration law requiring officials to post lists of illegal immigrants in the state's court system online.

The federal court suit was filed Thursday on behalf of four Latinos in Montgomery County who were accused of fishing without a state fishing license. The offense is a misdemeanor.

Southern Poverty Law Center attorney Kristi Graunke says the law is designed to humiliate and make life difficult for immigrants regardless of their status.

"While the rest of the country focuses on how best to make Americans at heart become Americans on paper, Alabama continues to tread down a discriminatory, anti-immigrant path," said Nora Preciado, staff attorney at the National Immigration Law Center. "This lawsuit proves once again that Alabama's policies aren't just unconstitutional, but also out of touch with the political mainstream."

Governor Robert Bentley's office, as well as that of Attorney General Luther Strange, both declined to comment.

A supporter of the law, House Speaker Mike Hubbard of Auburn, says the coalition of groups files lots of lawsuits and he will let the courts sort it out.

The state has posted no names so far.

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